Requirements and attitudes toward eHealth content in human medicine studies: A cross-sectional study to improve the curriculum.

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the current integration of eHealth content into the medical curriculum at the University of Luebeck. The aim is to explore how students and alumni remember e-health teaching content und to assess their knowledge, confidence and preparedness for using digital applications in clinical practice. The results can help with the further development of the curriculum.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among current medical students and alumni (graduation within the last five years) of the University of Luebeck. The questionnaire assessed participants' attitudes toward eHealth, their self-assessed knowledge and confidence, and the eHealth content taught during their studies. Data were analyzed descriptively, and associations between key variables were examined using Spearman's rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: A total of 131 responses were analyzed (students: n=76, alumni: n=54). While students reported more frequent exposure to eHealth content (70%) than alumni (19%), overall, 51% indicated that no eHealth instruction had been part of their curriculum. The most common taught topics included the electronic patient record (ePA), ePrescriptions, and communication platforms like Communication in healthcare (KIM) and Telematics messenger (TIM).Self-assessed knowledge of eHealth showed strong correlations with perceived confidence and preparedness. Confidence in using eHealth applications strongly predicted perceived preparedness. Gender and age were also found to be relevant factors: male participants reported higher knowledge levels, and younger participants more frequently encountered eHealth content.

Conclusions: The findings highlight substantial variability in the perception of eHealth teaching and reveal significant associations between perceived knowledge, confidence, and readiness for professional application. Participants expressed a clear need for broader and more structured digital health education. Core topics identified for future curricular integration include digital documentation systems, telemedicine, data protection, and the use of AI in healthcare. Comprehensive, longitudinal integration of eHealth across core and elective curricula is essential to adequately prepare future physicians for an increasingly digitalized healthcare system.